The Forbidden Wish - Jessica Khoury [Review]

Book: The Forbidden Wish

Author: Jessica Khoury

Published: 23rd February 2016

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Wow, did I love this book. I had heard good things before I decided to pick it up, but, guys, I'm super impressed. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. 

The Forbidden Wish is a beautiful re-imagining of the story of Aladdin, full of magic, action and romance. 

The writing is rich and imaginative; the magic of the Jinn was described with such ease, and it was so easy to get lost in the sprawling desert landscapes and wondrous palaces. 

I loved the depth of the characters, my favourite being Zahra. Zahra is the jinni of the lamp, bound to serve the owner and grant them three wishes. She has served many a cruel and selfish master, and after around 4,000 years of such an existence, she has grown bitter and without hope. Basically, the girl needs some beauty sleep - but she can't sleep, the Jinn don't sleep (bummer). 

However when Aladdin finds her, he reawakens the hope she has lost and rekindles the fire within her soul. Aladdin is charming, albeit a little foolish, and he reads very similarly to the Aladdin others might be familiar with. He is the perfect companion to bring out Zahra's loving and kind nature (although he is not the first to do so). I love that the story is told from Zahra's perspective as opposed to Aladdin's. 

The princess, Caspida, is feisty and defiant and yearns to be a just ruler, and her hand-maidens are super bad-ass. Their sections of the story were among my favourite (sign me up for that girl gang, plz).

The romance in the story is lush and enchanting, and I very much enjoyed this element - which is saying something as I'm not normally one for a lot of romance (pass the bucket) - but this was really captivating and truly genuine.

I also enjoyed the little touches, like how Zahra occasionally addressed her thoughts to Roshana, the friend she had once lost, calling her Habiba (dear friend). It really added another dimension to the story, and I loved the sentiment. 

The descriptions of the Jinn remind me of Rebel of the Sands (Alwyn Hamilton), which is probably another reason why I enjoyed this book, as I loved the Rebel of the Sands. I liked the darkness of the Jinn, they aren't 'watered down' or anything like that. They are wondrous in description, but they are truly cruel and deceptive. 

The ending is satisfying and beautiful, and was an excellent conclusion the novel. 

Overall, this is an enchanting read, and I would encourage everyone to give it a go, even if fantasy or re-tellings aren't really your thing. The writing is superb. 

Outlander Season 2 Premiere [Review + Recap]

This year's power couple

Yes, that's right folks, everyone's favourite historical drama is back! 

Outlander Season 2 premiered on Saturday night (09/04) on STARZ, and was available for all us UK folks on Amazon Instant Video on Sunday. 

But what did Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) get up to in this season's premiere?

When we last left the dynamic duo, Claire had just told Jamie she was pregnant and they hugged, and kissed, and all of us viewers swooned, and it was very cute.

Of course, that shit couldn't last, because as the new episode opens, Claire is somehow back in dreary 'present day' (1948, for her), and Jamie's gone, and she's crying and I'm screaming to the heavens - WHYYYY.

Claire leaves the mystic ruins and wanders along some random road and is discovered by a wee old Scottish man who somehow doesn't have the urge to run away from her (even after she grabs him by his coat screaming WHAT YEAR IS IT), and just like that, she's in a hospital waiting for her darling Jamie Frank to come pick her up.

Frank comes into her room, clearly dumbstruck that his wife that left him two years ago is suddenly back, and safe. He is thrilled, although I can't help but feel he would have moved on in the space of TWO YEARS. But clearly Claire's the gal for him, it doesn't even matter that she shagged some other dude and is now pregnant - we all make mistakes, amirite?

Okay, Frank's not the best thrilled when Claire eventually admits the truth to him, although he seemingly doesn't think she's bat-shit crazy - even though most of us, when confronted with the absolutely absurd tale of magical stones and hot Scottish guys in kilts would think she was. So, er, I guess that's something?

But let's get real. Who actually thinks Claire and Frank make the best pairing? Seriously. They're chemistry is now non-existent and I'm sure the fact that he bares a really fucking striking resemblance to renowned torturer and rapist Captain Jack Randall is really going to help along their relationship.

And the award for most boring man in the world goes to...

C'mon Outlander, take us back to the land of thrilling fights, stunning scenery and buckets of alcohol, please. Anyway, Frank and Claire eventually decide to raise the growing baba as their own, albeit with a few conditions. Frank must never mention the word 'flog' in Claire's presence (I agree), and Claire must agree to let go of her ghost-husband and stop trying to find out if he did really die (and to that I say to you, thanks, but no thanks).

Frank reveals he has an offer from Harvard and they all move to Boston. Oh boy (zzzzz).

And with a change of scene we are back in past-day and Claire and Jamie have just landed in France. What we've all been waiting for!!! Even though there's only like 20 minutes of the programme left - DAMMIT.

What everyone actually wants to see

Claire and Jamie find somewhere to chill and after some lengthy conversation (Jamie admits he still has flashbacks of Randall, Claire comforts) they agree to try and stop the Jacobite uprising to try and prevent a monumental loss of life. Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) is angry the dynamic duo won't tell him why they are doing all this random shit and Jamie reassures Murtagh he will tell him the truth 'when it's time' and Murtagh seems to accept this...with literally zero complaints. Er, Okay, great then, I guess?

Jamie and Claire meet with Jared Fraser (first step of their plan) who is skeptical of Jamie's sudden interest in politics, to which Jamie strips off (yes, everyone, this is the moment you have been waiting for) and that appears to be all the answer Jared needs. Jamie wants to meet the Jacobite leaders, Jamie and Jared barter for a bit, and they agree that Jamie will take over Jared's wine business whilst he is in the West Indies because he's got a 'really good head for figures'... er, if you say so Jared. JC also get the run of Jared's Paris home whilst he's away and a share of the profits. Super duper!

Later, Claire is walking along the docks and comes across some sickly fellas with apparent smallpox. After Claire's expert medical assessment (yup, it's smallpox), our new baddie le Comte St. Germain (Stanley Weber) is pissed because now his ship and all its cargo has to be burnt to prevent the spread of infection, as the sickly fellas were from his crew (erm, soz dude).

hint: I am the villain

Cue: death stare from St. Germain and sassy retort from Claire (what a babe). J+C ride away in a carriage watching the burning ship and St. Germain works his best 'plotting villain' face. It's all very dramatic.

And that's it.

Summary of the episode: Too much Frank, not enough Jamie (but when is there ever enough Jamie?)

All joking aside, although it was nice to revisit present-day Claire and see how she would adjust back into her old life, it could have taken up slightly less of the episode, to make more room for what we all came for: thrilling adventures from team JC.

Next week we expect to see:
1. More unnecessary shirtless Jamie
2. More pantomime villains
3. More sassy Claire
4. More characters who are inexplicably fluent in French

The Sign of One (Book #1) - Eugene Lambert [Review]

Book: The Sign of One

Author: Eugene Lambert

Published: 7th April 2016

Publisher: Egmont UK

Pages: 400
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Going into this book, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I hadn't heard a lot about it, but it was advertised as a science-fiction type thriller, although I would say to me it reads more as a dystopian novel, but I'm okay with that.

The premise of the book was very interesting. As a twin myself (hi, Mel!), I found the narrative concerning the 'evil' twins to be intriguing and it was definitely what held my attention for the first part of the novel. These 'evil' twins are branded, separated and eventually executed as part of the Annual Peace Fair (ironic name, am I right?). But the big draw is that our main protagonist finds out he's one of these 'evil' twins - eghad!

The characters are definitely interesting. Kyle is a little naive, but strong-willed and you can really understand his sense of struggle as his world turns upside down and he is forced to question everything he has ever known. However, the crown Jewel of this novel is Sky, the female protagonist. Billed as a rebel pilot (reminds me of Rey from The Force Awakens) with a hidden agenda, she was definitely my favourite character in the book. So rare is it to find a strong female protagonist that I get super excited whenever one actually appears.

The writing throughout is suitably engaging, and I never found myself bored or flicking through pages, which has been known to happen before. The novel delves into deeper issues of prejudice and segregation, which allows for a thought-provoking read.

Despite a littering of typically dystopian themes, this is definitely more than just another YA dystopia/sci-fi read. Consider me suitably intrigued for the sequel.

Zootropolis (2016) Review

"Life's a little bit messy. We all make mistakes.
No matter what type of animal you are, change starts with you."

Following on from the elephantine success of Frozen and Big Hero 6, Walt Disney Animation Studios are back to bring you Zootropolis (or Zootopia, depending on your regional location), a family friendly feature full of, well, fur. This mammal movie takes place after all species of animals have had a biological evolution, no longer needing to attack each other, choosing to instead live in a haven together in Zootropolis.

So, in this animal utopian buddy-cop animation, who is our unlikely hero? Officer Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) – a small town bunny from Bunnyburrow who dreams of helping the world at the Z.P.D. When Judy’s chance comes up, she packs her bags and sets off for Zootropolis, leaving her many rabbit relatives behind. Once in the big city, life isn’t quite how she imagined, and she is quickly relegated to parking meter duty by Cape buffalo Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), a significant step down from what she envisioned. Determined to battle prejudice amongst her fellow officers, and after a chance encounter with an otter, she rallies to be put on a missing person’s case, and quickly things descend out of control as the predator mystery unravels. Along for the ride is her reluctant ‘team-member’, a con artist fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), who Hopps hustles into helping her.

Goodwin (Once Upon A Time, He’s Just Not That Into You) embodies every characteristic of her plucky bunny in her performance, showing that you can be small and still make a difference. In an unlikely pairing, Goodwin’s Hopps finds a friend in Bateman’s (Arrested Development, Horrible Bosses) Wilde, a street-smart but somewhat disenchanted fox. Goodwin and Bateman are electric on screen together, and the voice acting is some of the best to have graced the screen in recent years.

If you are expecting some utterly vibrant animation considering the Disney name, you will not be disappointed. Every image is a triumphant creation, and the vast landscapes of this world are displayed in breath-taking hues; from the hustle and bustle of Savanna Central, to the frosty fisheries of Tundratown, every environment is thoughtfully developed to create maximum immersion for viewers. As Judy rides the main train to the city, you really feel as if you are right there with her, watching the illustrious storms of the Rainforest district overhead.

Zootropolis is an enlightening celebration of multiculturalism amongst animals which has thought-provoking relatability to our everyday lives. It seems unlikely that an animated film could be as resounding and potentially influential as more traditional media in changing ideas and viewpoints, but it is actually well positioned to promote fully its messages of tolerance, unity, and acceptance. Along with its rebellion against stereotypes and seeming social commentary on police bias, the film will hopefully not only resonate in children’s minds as this is a movie that appeals to all generations. Disney seems to have timed this release perfectly, especially considering current cultural and political climates; Zootropolis may well indeed be the reminder that we all need to be accepting of those around us, and to always keep trying to be better versions of ourselves (insert Gazelle’s catchy pop anthem here).

Filled with genuine heart and imaginative characters, Zootropolis is every bit inspirational as it is enjoyable, giving hope that perhaps there is a Zootropolis/topia out there for us all to bask in one day. 

(All images are copyright Disney.) 

The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) - C. J. Redwine [Review]

Book: The Shadow Queen

Author: C. J. Redwine

Published: 3rd March 2016

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 390

Rating: 4/5 stars 

I love fairy-tale retellings. However, it can be hard to find good ones. The Shadow Queen is definitely a good one. This loose retelling of Snow White has gripping action, creepy villains and lovable heroes, which ensure a thrilling read.

Firstly, the writing of Redwine is superb. She really delivers a page-turning read. Never did I feel bored, or like I was just skimming pages. I really felt immersed in the story, and it still felt original, even though it was a retelling. 

This book had some truly dark and creepy moments, but provided the perfect balance for me as I love the slightly more sinister touches like the use of blackened apples and the enchantment of vines (reminded me of Maleficent, another story I love). 

The characters were all interesting, and I liked the heroine Lorelai. She is both brave and smart; she's kind and sincere but isn't naive about the task ahead of her and the threat that the main villain, Irina, poses (something I appreciated). 

Kol, the other ~main character~ really goes through a significant character journey, which I enjoyed reading. He's funny and honorable and noble and honestly a little sassy, which is great. He is the perfect companion character to Lorelai's sometimes more serious nature (she's facing death, totally understandable), and I loved their story together.

There IS romance, which sometimes I'm adverse to if it's done poorly, however there is no insta-love here, and the relationship blossoms over time and trials etc. etc. which is exactly what I'm looking for in a book. 

Overall, this is a really satisfying take on the story of Snow White and definitely worth a read. I'm excited for other additions to the series, however I'm hoping they will be companion novels, set within the same universe but with different characters, as the story to this book was wrapped up quite nicely, to be honest. 

Half Lost (Half Bad #3) - Sally Green [Review]

Book: Half Lost

Author: Sally Green

Published: 31st March 2016

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 384

Rating: 3/5 stars 

I'll temper this review by firstly stating that I loved the second book in this trilogy. Like, loved it. It's one of my favourite books from 2015. And I was set to love this book. Up until the last 50 or so pages, I did love it. But then everything went to shit. Like, seriously, I'll get on to that in a minute. The ending of this book will REALLY polarise fans of the series. 

Now, I'm not saying don't read it, or don't start the series, because you might just love it, everybody likes different books and that's great. I'm all for diversity of tastes. However, I'm writing this review to express my specific opinion of the last book in the series. Whereas I gave the first and second books solid 4 and 5 star ratings respectively, I'm awarding this book 3 stars. And that's pretty much only because I liked the other books. If I hadn't enjoyed the first two books so much, this would be getting a 2 star rating. 

Why the strong opinion, you might ask? Well, I feel it is impossible to review this book properly without giving away some particularly spoiler heavy details, so if you prefer to read the book without encountering spoilers, I would suggest you look away now.

Seriously, I'm basically going to spoil the end of the series, if that's not cool with you, go read the books first. 

...

Okay, now onto the juicy stuff. I would normally stage this review by talking about my thoughts on the characters, the plot, the setting, the writing etc. But all of that is unnecessary in this review, because there are (only) 3 key things I strongly disliked about this book, and they all happen within the last 50 pages or so.

Picture the scene. Me, happily reading the conclusion to one of my (previously) favourite series, excited to see how the characters end up, hoping that Nathan (our protagonist) will have a happy life after his previous unfortunate years. Then BAM it hits. The ending. This is it. What will happen? Who will die? Who will live? How will Green wrap up this exciting series?

Oh. Is this it? This is a joke, right?

(1) Firstly, she kills off Gabriel. YES YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT FOLKS. The main draw of this series was the *unusual* decision by Green to make the main character (Nathan) bisexual, and introduce a love interest in the form of gay best-friend type Gabriel. Gabriel was great. He was kind, handsome, and an altogether good guy who gave Nathan some of his happiest memories. They *officially* got together in this book and were set to live by the river together somewhere peaceful. Or they would have done, had Gabriel not been quickly killed off (rather randomly) in the last few pages. 

Which left me screaming to the heavens - WHYYYYYYY???

(2) Secondly, after Gabriel has departed this world (RIP Gabe), it is revealed that Nathan has a son (say waaa?), and Annalise is the mother.

Yup folks, previous father-murderer Annalise who we all wanted to kill ourselves at the end of the second book has apparently given birth to a baby in secret and it was kept from her whilst she was imprisoned etc. Oh yeah and she doesn't die in this book either. No, she gets to live in New York with her new fain husband and son (I guess??) while Gabriel is dead and Nathan is miserable. Exactly the ending I wanted - NOT.

(3) Nathan, miserable and distraught, goes off to live in the woods, by himself. For several pages. He is eventually joined by his brother Arran and Adele who give him a few gifts and continue to stop by occasionally to check on him. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, we are introduced to the ludicrous idea that because Nathan can transform himself into living animals, he can now adopt the shape of plants and trees (because they're living, I guess?). ERM WHAT. At this point, I think to myself, if he turns into a tree I'm so fucking done.

...

Yes, you guessed it. The novel ends with him becoming a tree. A literal tree. He watches over Gabriel's corpse. It would be poetic if it wasn't so FUCKING RIDICULOUS. Like, who at Penguin thought this was a remotely satisfying ending? (At least this explains the cover art, I suppose...)

As I say, some people will love this book and find it meaningful and poetic but I am not one of those people. I wanted to hurl my copy of the book out of the window as soon as I finished reading.

At the end of this book all I'm left with for my emotional investment, time and money is another dead gay kid (surprises there), a redundant child, and the adventures of tree-boy.

You couldn't make this shit up. Oh no wait, someone did and now it's a published book. Go figure.